Locket, &amp;c.



' PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

s woons LOGKET, 8w. APPLIOATION FILED MAR- 16, 19(15- IIIIII'II' I STEPHEN WOODS, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

LOCKET, 81.0.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN WooDs, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of White Plains, county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Lockets and Like Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and concise specification.

The invention relates to lockets and like devices, and has for its object the production of a novel article which, while capable of use for the usual and ordinary purposes, possesses also certain advantages in its construction and principle of operation as will be hereinafter fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a central section of a two leaf locket embodying my invention, Fig. 2 an elevation of the same opened, Fig. 3 an enlarged section of the pivotal connection and locking latch, with intermediate portions broken away, Fig. 4 a central cross-section of a development with the retaining rings broken away, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of this form in open position. As specifically embodied in the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the invention comprises two superposed leaves 1 and 2 adapted to slide one upon the other, and provided respectively with a marginal projection 3 and 4 of the same general size and shape and rounded to form a smooth head and neck when the leaves are closed. The main hinge pin 5 passes through the two projections transversely to the plane of the proximate faces of the leaves and thereby serves to constrain said leaves to slide in close proximity or in contact with each other. The leaves may obviously be of any desired contour, formation or construction, but they are usually and preferably made of equal size and similar shape and are perfectly flat on their proximate faces, which faces are provided with the usual means, such as the rings 6, for holding a photograph, mirror or similar exhibit device. Ordinarily each leaf is prO-, vided'with an interior flange 7. The hinge pin 5 is most desirably a hollow rivet or eyelet through which the attachment ring 8 may be looped, but it will be obvious that other methods of suspension may also be employed with equal effect. Between the main-hinge and the body of one of the leaves (2) is interposed an additional pivotal connection in the form of a swivel joint, the pivotal axis I dental lateral opening of the leaves Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 16, 1905. Serial No. 250,427.

Patented June 18, 19 07.

of which is transverse to the axis of the main hinge 5 and therefore permits the transverse rotation of the leaf when the same is in its open position or separated from the other. The swivel joint comprises a pin 9 fast at one end in the outer part of projection 4 and mounted to turn in an aperture in the leaf 2, being held therein by means of its upset head, as .shown. The plane of the division between the outer part of the projection 4 and the body of the leaf 2 which constitute the two rotatable members of the swivel joint, is disposed in the neck of the projection at a slightly greater radial distance from the main hinge pivot than the outer rounded edge of the other projection 3, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that the swiveled leaf will be free to turn on the pin 9 as soon as it had been turned clear of the other leaf 1. With the foregoing disposition of the two hinges or pivotal connections, it is obvious that the two leaves may be opened by sliding the one upon the other and that the exhibit devices borne by them may be readily exposed in the same direction by virtue of the swivel.

In order to hold the two leaves in superposed or closed position, the invention contemplates a locking means at or near a point diametrically opposite the main hinge. This consists of a member carried in either one of the leaves and constructed to overhang the adjacent edge of the other leaf to prevent lateral opening thereof, like a book, the said member being immovable in such direction. As shown herein, the locking device is mounted on the leaf 1 and is formed from a section of spring wire 10 concealed under the flange 7 of the leaf 1 and secured thereto at one end, the other end extending part way around the leaf and through an aperture therein to the outside, where it is bent as a hook, 11, over the other leaf 2 and finds a seat thereon in a slight depression 12 provided for this purpose. When thus seated the two leaves are held securely against lateral opening but may be slid upon each other by retracting the spring hook 11, by pulling it outwardly against the tension of the spring and in a direction substantially parallel with the planes of said leaves. If desired, the spring and its seat may be rounded or beveled to act merely as a frictional detent holding the sections in registry until moved by an overwhelming counter-force, but in either case the latch as described will prevent inadvertent or acciwhich prised of a single spring secured to the intewould, of course, strain or injure the hinge connections.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown a development of the invention in which more than two leaves are pivotally united in the manner above described, the principle of their operation, however, bein the same as in Figs. 1 and 2. The central section 13 is provided with a rigid marginal hinge projection 14 and the projection on the two leaves 15 and 16, both of which are provided with swivel joints, are pivotally united to the central projection by a hollow rivet 17, into which the attachment ring is looped as before. The latch 18 is, in this case, double, being comrior of the central leaf 13 and provided at its free end with a double hook 20, each hook member of which overlaps a portion of the two adjacent swiveled leaves, the same as in Fig. 1. The central leaf 13 may be provided with means (not shown) for holding exhibit devices on both sides, thereby roviding accommodation for four of such evices in one locket, and, obviously, the devices of each swiveled leaf may be exhibited in either direction.

It is of course to be understood that any number of leaves may be thus pivotally united, and that any number of the same may be swiveled as desired for the purposes above mentioned.

It will be manifest that the absence of bezels between the several leaves permits the same to be made with the least possible thickness consistent with strength and durability; that the device is capable of ready manipulation to open and close, and also that it possesses all of the features of utility to be found in lockets heretofore in use.

Having described my invention, What I claim an desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is

1. An article of the class described comprising a pair of sections or leaves adapted to bear exhibit devices on their normally proximate faces, and a hinge having its axis transverse to said faces, uniting said leaves, in combination with a section of spring wire secured at one end to one of said leaves and ex- 1 .of, and extending to the outside of the said leaf, and a hook formed at the outer end of said wire adapted to overhang a portion of the other section.

3. An article of the class described com-' prising a pair of sections or leaves provided with means for holding exhibit devices on their normally proximate faces, a hinge for said leaves with its axis transverse to said faces, and a swivel joint between one of said leaves and the said hinge, in combination with a spring wire secured at one end to one of said leaves and extending inside the mar gin thereof, a hook formed on the other end of said wire, passing to the outside of said leaf, said hook being adapted to seat on the outer side of the other leaf.

4. An article of the class described, comprising a plurality of leaves formed with means for holding exhibit devices, a main hinge uniting said leaves having its axis transverse to the plane of the proximate faces thereof, and an intermediate swivel joint between the main hinge and one of said leaves, in combination with a detent carried by one of said leaves spring pressed inwardly toward the center thereof and immovable laterally thereto, said detent being adapted to overhang and bear against the margin of an adjacent leaf.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to the specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN WOODS.

Witnesses:

I. V. DORLAND, H. G. KIMBALL. 

